Rolling hatch beam assembly



March 1948. J. EG N 2,438,846

R OLL'ING amen BEAM ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 18, 1945 4 Sheets$heet 1'INVENTOR. J/ /N 6i DEEQAA/ March 30, 1948. J. G. DEEGAN ROLLING HATCHBEAM ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 18, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JH/VGEE-56,4 BY 4270M) March 30, 1948. J. G. DEEGAN ROLLING HATCH BEAMASSEMBLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 18, 1945 INVENTOR. Jhw 632E562 gffla A Z'ORJYEY Patented Mar. 30, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEROLLING HATCH BEAM ASSEMBLY J ohn- G. Deegan, Bronxville, N. Y.Application January 18, 1945, Serial No. 573,347

This invention relates to hatchbeamsand a short distance, ordinarilyabout two or three feet, above the deck level. This coaming serves bothto strengthen the deck which has been weakened by cutting the hatchtherein, and, to prevent water from going down into the vessel. Thishatch in the shelter deck is ordinarily closed by planking, or a hatchcover, which rests on beams extending across the hatch. In order toprotect the cargo stored below decks, it is, of course, essential thatthe hatch covers be of solid and substantial construction, and they aretherefore usually supported on large I-beams. The hatches in the decksbelow the shelter deck are covered by planking, so that additional cargomay be carried in these hatch areas. Such planking is also supported bysimilar I-beams.

Whenever the hatches are to be opened, either in all decks, or in anyselected deck, it is usual to remove the hatch covers and the hatchbeams by means of hoists and to store these members on the deck of theship. In this way an opening is provided throughout the vessel for thepassage of cargo during the loading and unloading operations.

The removal of the hatch beams in this way is an expensive andtime-consuming operation and the storage of the beams on thejdecks takesup a great deal of valuable deck space, which may be put to better use.Accordingly, it is a rimary object of this invention to provide rollinghatch beams of an improved character which may be readily rolled, alongtracks supportedirom the coaming, or hatch siding, to one end, or theother, of the hatch, when it is desired to provide an open hatchwaythroughout the vessel. Such beams are, of course, rolled back into placebefore closing the hatchway with the planking, or hatch covers.

As the ends of the hatch beams are normally supported on brackets, orcleats, extending along the hatchways, it is another object of thisinvention to provide means whereby the hatch beams 8 Claims. (01. 114--201) may be raised from their normal, or resting, positions, andsupported on the tracks during the operation of rolling them to one sideof the hatch opening to provide an open hatchway. These same meanspermit lowering of the I-beam back to resting position on the cleats.tion the rollers from which the beams are supported during rollingoperation rest on the tracks, but carry only their own weight.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means for elevating.or lowering, the hatch beams, and for rolling them to one side, or backinto place, preparatory to closing the hatch, which means are of'animproved character'in that they do not include the customary levers,orother operating mechanism, projecting into the hatch which interfereswith loading, orunloading, operations as well as with the properpositioning of the hatch covers in place atthe various deck levels. Inefiecting this object of the invention, means are used for lifting thehatch beams from their normal supporting posi-' tions to the rollerstraveling on the tracks, or for lowering the hatch beams so that theirweight is taken off the rollers and supported on the cleats, whichlifting means are readily operated by a bar inserted. in an openingprovided in a capstan head'of the lifting and lowering element. This baris insertedin the capstan head only dur-' ing the actual lifting orlowering operation, so that it does not project at other times into thehatch. 7

Still another object of this invention is to provide a track for therollers on which the rolling hatch beam is supported during theoperation of moving the beam, which track is readily secured either to ahorizontal coaming, or a vertical coaming, thereby permitting its use atthe various deck levels throughout the ship. Moreover, the track is soarranged that the upper part thereof is at the same level as the topsurface of the hatch beams thus permitting the placing of the planking,or hatch cover, across both the hatch beams and the track. In this waythe track aids in supporting the hatch cover when the hatch is closed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from theensuing disclosure, taken in connection with the appended drawings,

wherein;

Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing two of the rolling hatch beamsarranged one above the other as they might be arranged at the shelterand lower decks, respectively;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational view, partly In this posi" in section,of the right hand end of one of the beams illustrated in Fig. 1, showingthe supporting track and the roller arrangement;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken substan-. tially along the line4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross sectional view through the elevating-smeans'ibyiwhich': the: end. of". thee hatch beam may be elevatedfrom*its normalior: resting, position so that it is supported from thetrack, or lowered from the track back upon its; normal support, thisview being takenalongtheline 5-5 of Fig. 2;

cated at a deck lower than an upper, or shelter, deck of the ship. Thus,in the construction illustrated in the lower part of Fig. 1, the track23 is welded, or otherwise secured, at both its upper and lower edges,to the vertical coaming, or vertical hatch siding ll. In both cases, therollers 24 are adapted to roll in a track 23 so shaped as to accommodatethese rollers and to prevent theirollers:fromzjumpingtheetraclh 'Dh'earrangement by-which. the" ends: of the rolling hatch beam I I may beelevated, or lowcred, so that the weights of the beams may betransferred from the supports 2| (Fig. 1) to the rollers" 2'4lbcate'd'in the track 23, and back to Fig. -6 is a verticalcross-sectionaliviewftaleem m thasupportsais' shown more particularly inFigs.

on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a partial elevation'alvi'ew f aimodi fied form of beam-liftingmeans; and

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 8-8.of Fig. 7;

Referring more specifically to. the general; ar rangement shown in Fig.-1., therolling hatch. beams" are denoted generally by: thenumeral ll'andmay be-of I-bearn shape withweb. l2 and; upper and 1ower-flanges l'3and-[4. At .eacl'hendf ofthe'I-beamthere are provided I doubler plates.I5 preferably oneach sideotthebeamweb asshown in Fig. 6. These plates,together withthee beams; may be cutaway at certain. portionsas shown forexample'in. Fig. Igor. in-any, suitable. manner, in orderto provi de.the necessary clear. ances between :the *hatch beam w and l he brackets,or cleats; normally supporting it. 'I-hetwo roll lng-beamconstructibnsdllustrated inlFig; 1 are: adapted to show how'the trackiss-positioned and. the hatch beams supported therefrom when: thecoaming-is=horizontah as illustrated in the upper part of thefig-ure,andwhen the coamingis-vertical; the track in this case beingsupported-die rectly from the sidesof the hatchway-,. as. illustrated inthe lower part of the figure.-

Plates I5-ha-ve flanges I9 which normally. reston the cleatsll'attached-tp the hatchwaysid ing or coaming' l1: While" thesesupports..are shown as having the cross-sectiona'h shape.- of. a.quadrant of a circle,- it is, of course,.possi-ble to user supportingmeans of other shapesand, for. convenience, in-manycasesordinaryanglezmemr bers might be employed: Ifdesired,. sockets? may-beprovided-for" the beamsv to rest in by welding or otherwise attaching,strips l9a onsthe cleats. 24% adjacent the? resting positions. of. the

beams:

Asrshown'in Fig. 1, tracks-23-are provided. for rollersl'k so thatthehatchbeams may-be supported: from the tracks along: which the. rollersMare adapted to roll; or slide, during-theopera tion of moving'the hatchbeams-toone side'to provide an open hatchway, such as. is necessarywhen" loading; orunloading, the cargo.- The trackiz-amaybeconvenientlyformedinltheshape illustrated, and may beconstructed. of sheet metal;the? shape dependinge to some. extent on whether: thecoamingto.-which.itis secured-by welding, or otherwise, is horizontalorrvertica-l.Axpreferreddesignof track. is disclosed; ingreater: detailand: claimedin. copendingv application SeriaLNo; 570:196, filed-December-.28.19.44,,- now Patent No. 2,4351'90, dated February 3, 1948}.

Asshowninthe upper part of Fig. 1. the.lower edge-of: the.- track 23issecured, byweldihg. or otherwise, to horizontal coaming. l8,- while:its upper edge is securedto. a; vertical coa-ming': 2-6.

This" vertical coaming. may. of; course; be": the

hatch siding where the rolling hatch beam is 10- 2,, 3 and 5'. V

Rieferring'first to Fig. 3, it will be noted that therollers 24 arerotatably supported in a roller carriage 28. A preferred arrangement ofsupporting these rollers is shown as comprising. a roller. pin 29.having: a: threaded portion 29a into which a screwdriver. may be fitted.Be-

tweemthe main body portion of; the pin 29' and the roller. 'Z l,v asuitable" bushing 31" is: inter-.

posed. The'pin 2'9is' held against rotation' by means of "locking pins'3 I 21 which extend through the. member 28..- As shown in. this figure,there" may. be providedat each endofitherollinghatch beam.l'l;,twolrollers 2'41 although; of'course, one

roller. might be utilized; or'thfe; number of rollers might'exceedi'thetwo illustrated. Thenum'b'erof' rollers may, be largely determinedby theload which istobe. transmitted through" the rollers;

21 ththe track. 23.

Referring now more particularly to: Fig: 2; the

rollercarriage 28is.p,rovided withia laterally ex tendinggportion 33';havingga cylindrical. aperture.

through wlii'chan elevating? and lowering memhen.v hereinafterdescribed;v is' adapted; to pass. The carriage 28 has -a guide pin 32"extending through. it and. into an underlying wormnut block 411 seas-to:prevent turning ofth'e member 28.. about" the axis" of. the elevating;and" lowering member which wouldcause th'e'rollers' 241to jam inthetracklt. Thepin 32 may beheld'in position by a.set screw 32a' in.theimernber' 28:

As..shown.more clearly in Figs..2and' 5;.this elevating. andl'oweringmember is formed'iwith an. operating hub. 36 of" capstan type, having adependingportionj l projectingint'o the portion 33Jolthecarriage 28..The hub.36 has a drilled hole. 38. for seating a turning, bar' 3.9. whenthe screw is to. be. turned inorder to raise,.or lower, the end'oftherolling hatch beam. The dependingportionA Lof the screw head 36 is:securedito a shank 43'by. means of a pin .42 so that rotation. of; thehub 31: as previously; described causes thesh'ank. 43' to rotate.

Thashankflisprovided at its lower end with screwethreadedi portion, or.worm. 40, of large pitch. coacting withanut 4|..whicli is secured bysuitable. means, presently, to:v be described, tothe:end-of..the.rolling hatchheam. H 40 isssecuredtdtheshanki 431 by akey. 43a.(Fig.. 5)..- The lower. end. of. the. shank 431. is. screwthreaded so. that. a-nut. I'may. be secured there.- to below thewormutll to.prevent.the.latter from coming off the shank. Washers 4 5and lB may bepositioned betweenrthe.hub.36.andthe portion 33 .ofcarriage 2 8, andtheportionfi andworm 40, respectively; to. provide: atight assembly for the elevating. andlowering. mechanisms.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the hub 36 may be The worm secured to achannel 53.

line of the lifting mechanism, thereby providing.

a longer bearing surface for the turning bar 39 in the aperture 38during the raising and lowering operations.

The nut 4| through which the worm 4|] passes, is constructed with alaterally extending portion 50 (Figs. 2 and 4) having an aperturethrough which the guide pin 32 passes and in which it slides freelyduring the raising and lowering movements of the elevating mechanism.

A preferred arrangement for connecting the nut 4| with the hatch beam Hfor raising or lowering the same, will now be described. As shownclearly in Figs. 4 and 5, this nut may be A portion of the top flange ofthis channel is cut away adjacent the nut 4|, as shown at 53a in Figs. 3and 5, to pro-. vide the clearance necessary to permit relative movementof the laterally extending portion 33 of carriage 28.

The channel 53 is slidably associated with the hatch beam and is urgedtoward the opposite end of the beam so that the nut 4| and itsassociated lifting mechanism carrying the rollers 24 will tend to pullthese rollers away from the vertical wall of the track 23, therebyminimizing the tendency of the rollers to jam in the track if the beambecomes skewed while being rolled during the opening, or closing of thehatch.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, nuts 64 and 65 may be welded to the doublerplate'l5. Preferably these two nuts are also welded to a spacing member66 prior to being secured to the doubler plate to facilitate accuratelocation of the nuts. The

bolts 51 are threaded into these nuts, and pass through elongated slots55 and 56 in the channel 53. Washers 60 may be interposed between thebolt heads 58 and the channel. A locking pin, or rod, 62 prevents thebolts 51 from being loosened. It will. be noted that with thisarrangement, the channel 53 is bolted to the hatch beam in such manneras to permit the channel to move longitudinally with respect to thehatch beam.

As shown in Figs. '3 and 4, the channel 53 is normally urged to the leftby means of springs 12 abutting against an upturned portion on thechannel and against a stop plate 69, which may be secured to thelefthand nut 64. While two springs 12 areshown in the embodimentillustrated, one spring might be employed or, if desired, more than twomay be used.

The operation of the rolling hatch beam construction illustrated anddescribed may be explained as follows: 1 3

Normally the hatch beam rests in sockets in the cleats 2|. The rollers24 are in contact with the track 23 but are supporting only their ownweight. In this condition, the top flange l3 of the hatch beam H issubstantially at the same level as the upperpo'rtion" of the track23,.whereby the track and flange I3 of the I-beam I may both be used tosupport the planking, or hatch cover, used to close'the hatch. 1

When it is desired to roll the hatch beam to one side in order toprovide an open hatch for the loading or unloading of cargo, operatingbar 39 is inserted in opening 38 in the hub 36 of the elevating andlowering mechanism and the worm 40 is caused to turn with respect to thenut 4!. In this way the nut 4| is raised with reference to the extendingflange 33 of carriage member 28, to which are secured the rollers 24,the guide pin 32 sliding freely in the aperture in the ex- 6 tendingportion of the nut 4|.

nel 53, which, in turn, is secured by bolts 51 to the hatch beam H, theend of the hatch beam H is also raised with reference to the rollers 24.As a result, the weight of the beam is borne by rollers 24 and track.23. When both ends of the hatch beam are thus raised, it is possible toroll the beam to one sided the hatch along the tracks '23, and when allthe hatch beams are thus rolled to one side, the hatch is open forloading, or unloading, cargo.

When it is desired at the completion of the loading, or unloading,operation, or at other times, to return the I-beams to their normalposition intermediate the end of the hatchway,

the I-beams are first rolled to position. above their resting places.The lowering mechanism is turned, so that the nut 4|, channel 53, andthe adjacent end of the I-beam are lowered with respect to extendingflange 33 of the carriage member 28 to which the rollers 24 riding ontrack 2-3 are secured, until the beams seats on the cleats 2|.

The modified form of raising and lowerin mechanism shown in Figs. 7 and8 differs from the form previously described in that instead of using aworm and coacting nut, it employs two camming surfaces. These are thesurfaces which raise and lower the end of the hatch beam according-tothe direction of movement of these surfaces with respect to each other.As shown more particularly in Fig. 8, a member 15 is bolted to thechannel 53 by means of bolts 16 and is provided on its underside with acamming surface 11. The cooperating camming surface 18 is formed on asleeve 13 which may be keyed, or otherwise secured, to the lower end ofa bolt 80, threaded into the extension 33 of the carriage member 28.Thus when the operating hub 36 is rotated by means of the turning bar39, the bolt causes the sleeve 19 to rotate so that its camming surface18 cooperates with the camming surface 11, thereby causing the member15and its associated channel and beam end to be raised or lowered.

It is to be understood that this invention is not confined to the exactdetails of construction shown and described herein since variousmodifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departingfrom the spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with a hatchway having coamings, and supports forhatch beams, along opposite sides, a hatch beam adapted to rest on saidsupports, tracks supported by the hatch coamings, a plurality of rollersat each end of the beam and adapted to roll along said tracks andmechanisms for raising and lowering said beam from and to, its support,each of said mechanisms comprising a member slidably mounted on saidbeam but adapted to move vertical with said beam, a support for saidrollers, means rotatably engaging said member to effect displacementthereof with respect to the roller support, and means for preventingangular displacement of said rollers with respect to said beam.

2. In combination with a hatchway having coamings, and supports forhatch beams, along opposite sides, a hatch beam adapted to rest on saidsupports, tracks supported by the hatch coamings, roller means adaptedto'roll along said tracks and mechanisms for raising and lower- Sincethe nut 4| is secured by welding, or otherwise, to the chanart-3:3 am?ing' said; beam; from; and v tr its supports, said mechanismsv each:comprising as member ,slidably.

securedzto said beagim, a roller. carrying; member,

means rotatablycassociatedtwith saidroller car.-

ryi'ng: member and. engaging: said: first-named:

member, to: effectdisplacement. thereof with reient: means: tending? to:bring: saidrv slidable memberson: opposite. ends ofi the; hatch beamtogether to preventi-binding: of! the beam:

3; In combination: with a" hatchway. having; coainings, and supports forhatch beams,.along.

opposite sides-,=.a -hatciiibeam' adapted to rest on said supports,tracks; supported by the hatch coam'ings, a plurality of rollers at eachend of the beam adapted to r'll3 along said tracks. and mechanisms forraising! and: lowering said beam irom an'd to" said supp'orts; saidmechanisms each comprising a s'lidabl'ememb'er connected with said said:supports; tracks: supported: by the. hatch coamiiigs;.rollers:adapted toroll alongsaid tracks andimechanismssfor raisingand lowering the saidbeamrfromiandrto its supports;.said mechanisms each comprisingawn'rember "slidably' supported on saidib'eam, .aanutattached tosaidmember, a sup porti for saidi rollers means. rotatably engaging saidmember to. effect displacement: thereof. with respecti tow the.-rollersupport, said means and rolleresupporting; member: being supportedfrom said? nut; and; resilient means normally urgingsaid:.-slidable:member toward the; beam whereby thesrollersrom theroppositerends of the beam tend to; approach: each.- other topreventbinding of the rollers in the track.

5:. In: combination with a hatchway' having coamings. and supportingsockets for hatch beams,.alongaoppositesides; a h'atch beamadapted'to-rest in" said;sockets trackssupported by said warnings,rollers: adapted-t0? roll alongsaid tracks and mechanisms for raisingand lowering said beam from and to its supports, said mechanisms each icomprisinga; member; secured to said beam, a support forsaid: rollers,means rotatablyengaging said member to eiiect displace.- mentrthereoiwith r-espectto the roller support, and ailoek-ing pin connected to-thesupport for said rollers and. slidably associated with thefirstnamedmember to prevent angular displacement of the. rollers with,respect to the beam. to prevent; said rollersfrom bindingon thetrack.

6, In. combination with. a. hatchway having coamings, and-. supportsfor. hatch beams, along opposite sides a hatchbeam, trackwayssupportedby said coamings, rollersadapted. to travel on:saidtrackways,,and. beam. elevating. and lowering,mechanisms positionedbetween said hatch beam and rollers, each of said rollersbeing attachedto an.end of said hatchbeam through saidelevating andloweringmechanisms, each of saidmechanisms. comprising-.: a member to which saidrollers are attached}, saidmember provided, with, adepending,- pin; and.with, an: apertured.

portion; .an elevatingand loweringelement passingv through said.aperturedportion. and, provided 1 with a screw-threaded portion; aninternally.

threaded socketiorv seatingsaid screw-threaded portion, said.socketsbeing, secured to. an, attachment. member, secured, to. said:hatch beam. andprov-idedwithean aperturediiangethrough which said pin;is. adapted. to. move. axially-,., whereby.

when said. element is. rotated said, hatch. beam.

is raised, orlowered withrespect; to said rollers andsaiditrackways. r

7. In. combination. with; a hatchway. having.

coamings,.andi supports. for. hatch beams, along opposite. sides, .a.hatch beam, track-ways, support.- edlfromsaidlicoamings, roller, means.adapted to travellalongsaid" trackways,-, ancLbeam elevating. andTllowering, mechanisms positioned. between said hatchbeamand saidiroll'er.means,.each of.

' said rollermeans being attached to an. endof said hatchbeamthroughisaid. elevatinggand lowering, mechanisms, each. of said.elevating. and

loweringmechanis'ms. comprising: a member to which said roller means isattached; said member being provided with a laterally, extendingapertured" portion a, rotatable. element. passing through saidapertured'portionand provided, at.

a pluralitrof" slots; a"- pluralityof nuts secured to said hatch: beam;a plurality of bolts. passing through: said slots and. engaging saidnuts, whereby when: said rotatablehub is rotated, it is'raised orlowere'dwiti'ireference to-said threaded member, thereby raising orlowering said hatchbeam withirespect to'saidrollermeans' and saidtrackways. I

8. In combinationv with a hatchwayhaving coamings; and supports fol"-hatch" beams; along opposite sides; a hatch beam-adaptedto rest onsaidsupports; tracks supported by' the hatch coamings, rollers adaptedto roll on said tracks and mechanisms for raising? and lowering saidbeam from andtb its support-,1eachoi-saidmechanisms comprising a memberslidab'lesecured to the end" of said beam and adapted to'raise and lowersaid beam when it-' is rai'secP orlowered, roller-supporting means;-a=rotatable element engaging lastsaid means; saidmember-and elementhaving cooperating ca-mmingf surfaces whereby relative rotationtherebj'etween' raises (in lowers said beam; andresilient-means-urgingsaid 'memher away from the track to reducerollerjamming;

J OHN' G. DEEGANL' BEFER'ENGESx GIT-EDI The following; references areof." recordlin. the file of I this. patent? UNIEEEfl STATES: BATENTSNumber. Name- Date 2,332,306" Deegan? Oct; 19, 1943 FOREIGN BATENPTSNumber @ountry- 7 Date 517,859 Great Britain Feb; 9, 1940 661,727Germany" June" 2'7, 1938

